Improvement needed

[jh05498]

Please read entire post, before exploding.

Not very organized site, very hard to find things, don't take this wrong, I am posting with suggestions how to improve and not just complaining. If someone gets offended, I DONT CARE!!, so tired of that crap,

This is just when finding table, the problems are the following.

Basically when getting new tables its so many version, so many packs, alts etc if you are a new user to vps the confusion is unreal, its a nightmare.

so here is some suggestions, some might even be  implemented but I tell anyway, now not all of them are needed, its just to point you in the right direction to make thins more clear. The suggestions are multiple solutions so pick and choose which ones you like, if any at all.

 

* Put dates on all assets, and make them categorized and sortable, categories can be, vpx,vp9,vp6 etc, so I can just ignore all tables that are not vpx. Backglaases, links to roms, and maybe some other distinct categories that I cant thinks right now. One important thing is that there need to be some Tag name so if the tag is "Attack from mars", you can search on it and thanks to the tag and date sort you will find all you need on them so on can get the all the files/links for that table.

 

* Table pack solution with install application or clear instruction. Many table works with different parts, alts, pub pack very convoluted and really to know what goes where and if the different parts even works together. So Someone design a table or make ne versions, should pack a complete table solution that they have tested so any part does not get mixed up with incompatible files for that table.

 

I have more suggestions but we can start with those.

 

All this is what is call ed fragmentation and that is a huge problem, vpx with dof, dmd etc  suffers from that, kudos to baller installer trying to fix this problem, keep up the good work. I  myself have decades of experience working as a software engineer for a certain fruit company and others, but at this time I need to learn the infra structure and what all the parts are in the vpx world, it all new to me. Maybe I can come up with som container format later when I know how all this works, time will tell. One thing to that is great with me not knowing the vpx world is that I am a "virgin" too which men I very easily catches the none intuitive part of this entire virtual pinball environment when it comes to for example adding tables. OK, rant over. Don't get me wrong the vpx and flipper simulation is very impressive, I own real pinball machines so I can compare and that vpx even can simulate flipper "tapping" is amazing, this is some really impressive programming being done.  

One last thing:

I know people want to thank creators and people who contribute to the community, but all the thanks, great work etc, spams the comments so make it harder to find useful info, why now add a like counter, this way making comments more useful, less chatter about stuff that does not matter.  Ok Now rant is over, promise

 

Anyway 

What I can see on my very first impressions of this community is that people seem very passionate which I like very much, and very friendly, maybe I come across somewhat harsh here in my first post, but I goal is to improve things, and sometimes that is what it is.

 

Later

JH

 

 

[RabidUrko]

The first few lines come over very militant quite frankly, i would have left them out if you were looking for a constructive discussion.

Especially as in almost 2 years of being a member of the site, the second out of your two posts you have made in all that time is this one.

Edited March 7 by RabidUrko

[deadmanworking]

If you don't have the patience to familiarize yourself with what is there and why then this probably isn't for you. There are tools out there to help get a better overview (like https://virtualpinballspreadsheet.github.io/) but the fragmentation (no table packs, Roms not provided with tables etc.) exists for very specific reasons, so why be so judgemental if you could instead be a bit more humble and learn the ins and outs of this community based on (get this) content provided 100% FOR FREE 

[PopArt71]

10 hours ago, jh05498 said:

Please read entire post, before exploding.

Not very organized site, very hard to find things, don't take this wrong, I am posting with suggestions how to improve and not just complaining. If someone gets offended, I DONT CARE!!, so tired of that crap,

This is just when finding table, the problems are the following.

Basically when getting new tables its so many version, so many packs, alts etc if you are a new user to vps the confusion is unreal, its a nightmare.

so here is some suggestions, some might even be  implemented but I tell anyway, now not all of them are needed, its just to point you in the right direction to make thins more clear. The suggestions are multiple solutions so pick and choose which ones you like, if any at all.

 

* Put dates on all assets, and make them categorized and sortable, categories can be, vpx,vp9,vp6 etc, so I can just ignore all tables that are not vpx. Backglaases, links to roms, and maybe some other distinct categories that I cant thinks right now. One important thing is that there need to be some Tag name so if the tag is "Attack from mars", you can search on it and thanks to the tag and date sort you will find all you need on them so on can get the all the files/links for that table.

 

* Table pack solution with install application or clear instruction. Many table works with different parts, alts, pub pack very convoluted and really to know what goes where and if the different parts even works together. So Someone design a table or make ne versions, should pack a complete table solution that they have tested so any part does not get mixed up with incompatible files for that table.

 

I have more suggestions but we can start with those.

 

All this is what is call ed fragmentation and that is a huge problem, vpx with dof, dmd etc  suffers from that, kudos to baller installer trying to fix this problem, keep up the good work. I  myself have decades of experience working as a software engineer for a certain fruit company and others, but at this time I need to learn the infra structure and what all the parts are in the vpx world, it all new to me. Maybe I can come up with som container format later when I know how all this works, time will tell. One thing to that is great with me not knowing the vpx world is that I am a "virgin" too which men I very easily catches the none intuitive part of this entire virtual pinball environment when it comes to for example adding tables. OK, rant over. Don't get me wrong the vpx and flipper simulation is very impressive, I own real pinball machines so I can compare and that vpx even can simulate flipper "tapping" is amazing, this is some really impressive programming being done.  

One last thing:

I know people want to thank creators and people who contribute to the community, but all the thanks, great work etc, spams the comments so make it harder to find useful info, why now add a like counter, this way making comments more useful, less chatter about stuff that does not matter.  Ok Now rant is over, promise

 

Anyway 

What I can see on my very first impressions of this community is that people seem very passionate which I like very much, and very friendly, maybe I come across somewhat harsh here in my first post, but I goal is to improve things, and sometimes that is what it is.

 

Later

JH

 

 

This is all you need:

 

https://virtualpinballspreadsheet.github.io/

 

Use the filter option and find what you want. Really it's that easy.

 

 

[Wildman]

HA HA funny post, I want it easy..I want it now.. I dont want to look for stuff... I just want to put in my .25 cents in and play pinball...  Really? maybe just stick to your real pins...

But if your interested and have a few minutes of your valuable time to spare you might actually try reading some of the forums and see that this is being work on right now.

So if you want to make your input count try posting it in the right place instead of comming out with a rant like that,  heres a link that might interest you if you have the TIME to read it ... ENJOY....

 

 

[jh05498]

Good stuff, passionate members, and yes, I am lazy to a degree, and that drives me to find more efficient ways to do things, and sure, my post was a little ranty, but the frustration was real. There are always ways to improve things, and I did get some great answers from you guys with links and info. I guess none of my suggestions are of any value since not one actually commented on them,, but that is fine, it was just suggestions and once I learn more about how this entire environment works and how its put together, I will hopefully be able to contribute with solutions to make it easier to get different things going. However, I will continue to speak my mind, not to upset people, but I want this to improve, so if you don't like my ways of saying things, fine, just read and consider the suggestions, tell if they are crap, already solved or not needed, this way we  can iterate  the ideas, drop some,  and maybe come up with some great solutions. I understand that people get pissed off when newbies comes and criticize  stuff, and not having read all the forums, tutorials and the huge amount information available, that is all normal human  behavior,  (and me being lazy, I know) . So, again, to get upset when getting criticized, especially when you feel that all the info IS available is understandable . So yes this site is great in many ways, but what I want is to make the step in process threshold to virtual pinball lower in terms of the amount you need  to  know regarding tech stuff and amount of steps needed. To make the step in process easier will make it more attractive for more people to get ion to this vpx  world and make lazy people like me happier. See it this way, my laziness  drives me to improve things, I really enjoy  creating/improving  things and processes , I have been working as a software  engineer for many companies for a very long time, so I see myself as very fortunate to have a job that I truly enjoy.
That is all I have for now. Now I will think about my next post and how to upset even more people 🙂

 

Later 

JH 

[deadmanworking]

@jh05498 None of the responses to your post read like they were upset tbh, someone barging into the forum and rattling the cage happens from time to time, not such a big deal.. if you would care to read the current discussion about the redesign of the site that Wildman posted you would see that things along the lines of what you proposed as improvements are already being considered and worked on, so I guess there's not much to discuss here. See you later..

[Dazz]

15 hours ago, jh05498 said:

Please read entire post, before exploding.

Not very organized site, very hard to find things, don't take this wrong, I am posting with suggestions how to improve and not just complaining. If someone gets offended, I DONT CARE!!, so tired of that crap,

This is just when finding table, the problems are the following.

Basically when getting new tables its so many version, so many packs, alts etc if you are a new user to vps the confusion is unreal, its a nightmare.

so here is some suggestions, some might even be  implemented but I tell anyway, now not all of them are needed, its just to point you in the right direction to make thins more clear. The suggestions are multiple solutions so pick and choose which ones you like, if any at all.

 

* Put dates on all assets, and make them categorized and sortable, categories can be, vpx,vp9,vp6 etc, so I can just ignore all tables that are not vpx. Backglaases, links to roms, and maybe some other distinct categories that I cant thinks right now. One important thing is that there need to be some Tag name so if the tag is "Attack from mars", you can search on it and thanks to the tag and date sort you will find all you need on them so on can get the all the files/links for that table.

 

* Table pack solution with install application or clear instruction. Many table works with different parts, alts, pub pack very convoluted and really to know what goes where and if the different parts even works together. So Someone design a table or make ne versions, should pack a complete table solution that they have tested so any part does not get mixed up with incompatible files for that table.

 

I have more suggestions but we can start with those.

 

All this is what is call ed fragmentation and that is a huge problem, vpx with dof, dmd etc  suffers from that, kudos to baller installer trying to fix this problem, keep up the good work. I  myself have decades of experience working as a software engineer for a certain fruit company and others, but at this time I need to learn the infra structure and what all the parts are in the vpx world, it all new to me. Maybe I can come up with som container format later when I know how all this works, time will tell. One thing to that is great with me not knowing the vpx world is that I am a "virgin" too which men I very easily catches the none intuitive part of this entire virtual pinball environment when it comes to for example adding tables. OK, rant over. Don't get me wrong the vpx and flipper simulation is very impressive, I own real pinball machines so I can compare and that vpx even can simulate flipper "tapping" is amazing, this is some really impressive programming being done.  

One last thing:

I know people want to thank creators and people who contribute to the community, but all the thanks, great work etc, spams the comments so make it harder to find useful info, why now add a like counter, this way making comments more useful, less chatter about stuff that does not matter.  Ok Now rant is over, promise

 

Anyway 

What I can see on my very first impressions of this community is that people seem very passionate which I like very much, and very friendly, maybe I come across somewhat harsh here in my first post, but I goal is to improve things, and sometimes that is what it is.

 

Later

JH

 

 

As @Wildman pointed out... There is a forum and thread for information like this.  The current system is a 20+ year old forum based system that this site and several other similar sites use. Back then, this is/was really all that we had to use. It's gotten the hobby this far, and has kept the hobby out of trouble for the most part.  I completely understand that there are many pain points for people in this hobby. Getting started is a huge one, new people come in and basically just want everything handed to them on a silver platter. They tend to want everything, want it now, don't want to put any work or effort into it, and just flat out expect everything to be given to them... People don't understand, but many of us have been doing this for 25+ years.. We've worked directly and had many discussions with manufactures as to what we can and can't do in this hobby. There are specific reasons as to why some things are done the way they are done and handled in this hobby. 

If you really want to help and make your concerns heard, then make your points in a more constructive manner.  With CLEAR and concise language... For a software engineer, I'd expect your points to be much more clear than you've posted thus far. Format and punctuation go a long way...

I've always been open to suggestions and feedback on this site, but most people just complain.. to complain. No feedback, no constructive ness to their posts at all. 

To address your concerns... I'm currently, as we speak, working on a completely new platform for this site, and the hobby in general. Almost everything that you posted above, I've already enhanced and made better.   

[Dazz]

16 minutes ago, jh05498 said:

Good stuff, passionate members, and yes, I am lazy to a degree, and that drives me to find more efficient ways to do things, and sure, my post was a little ranty, but the frustration was real. There are always ways to improve things, and I did get some great answers from you guys with links and info. I guess none of my suggestions are of any value since not one actually commented on them,, but that is fine, it was just suggestions and once I learn more about how this entire environment works and how its put together, I will hopefully be able to contribute with solutions to make it easier to get different things going. However, I will continue to speak my mind, not to upset people, but I want this to improve, so if you don't like my ways of saying things, fine, just read and consider the suggestions, tell if they are crap, already solved or not needed, this way we  can iterate  the ideas, drop some,  and maybe come up with some great solutions. I understand that people get pissed off when newbies comes and criticize  stuff, and not having read all the forums, tutorials and the huge amount information available, that is all normal human  behavior,  (and me being lazy, I know) . So, again, to get upset when getting criticized, especially when you feel that all the info IS available is understandable . So yes this site is great in many ways, but what I want is to make the step in process threshold to virtual pinball lower in terms of the amount you need  to  know regarding tech stuff and amount of steps needed. To make the step in process easier will make it more attractive for more people to get ion to this vpx  world and make lazy people like me happier. See it this way, my laziness  drives me to improve things, I really enjoy  creating/improving  things and processes , I have been working as a software  engineer for many companies for a very long time, so I see myself as very fortunate to have a job that I truly enjoy.
That is all I have for now. Now I will think about my next post and how to upset even more people 🙂

 

Later 

JH 

This tells me that you didn't even check/read the thread that @Wildman suggested... most of your complaints/suggestions are not really new at all.

Everything done in this hobby is done for the passion of the game... Everything that people do for this is done on their own free time, some creations taking hundreds of hours to create. Always keep in mind that this is a HOBBY. Everyone here has real lives, work, and families. 

Again, some of the steps and processes we have in this hobby are directly related to the hobby relationship with manufactures.  

[jh05498]

I did check the links, so me saying that my suggestions was not considered,  was based on the text in the answers, not via the links, that should have been considered a response to the suggestion, this getting complicated , ok, fair enough.  I understand that this community is doing very hard work and all as a hobby, so its easy to step on some toes if in the context of expressing ideas comes across a little harsh.  Anyway I fully understand that making these table is an immense amount of work, by talented people, plus also keeping a site going for so long is really hard work. I can and many times does come across maybe somewhat "to critical/ungrateful " maybe,  in my wording on things, but do not confuse this with not respecting the hard work being done here, again, my goal is to get things better. So yes I read the links, yes I am glad to see that the suggestions I made, did, has already been considered to some degree so it will be exiting to see what is coming in the near future.

 

Later 

Jh

 

[arminio]

My main problems on this site (as uplader and downloader ) are:

 

• When I upload table and images that shows how table looks, images are shown by "random" order - can't figure out how to force them in order I want...  I already posted my comment about this here, and admin told me that some solution is on the way. That's good to hear
• Newest "problem" (or feature? ) I just noticed (but I am still new in uploading content so maybe this is already commonly known stuff I am not familiar with  ) - I uploaded new version of my latest table, and while waiting for approval, I changed a line of description text from current release (I just removed some extra line of text) - and that change put back my table in "recent game submissions" list although it is not released yet (stull waiting for approval)... And now, people start to download still old version thinking that they are getting an updated one  (I've already got comment and few private messages asking what's going on)... Would be great if maybe we can control by some checkbox or something whether we want that changes in description put release in "recent submissions" category or not.. Or maybe that only new upload put entry in "recent", and not just change in description...

And no, I am not ranting  It's just few of suggestions for improvement of this already great site (yes - you need to consider this is a hobby and basically free to use... So I can live with these "problems"... but if they can be "fixed", would be great! 👍 )

 

[Dazz]

29 minutes ago, arminio said:

My main problems on this site (as uplader and downloader ) are:

 

• When I upload table and images that shows how table looks, images are shown by "random" order - can't figure out how to force them in order I want...  I already posted my comment about this here, and admin told me that some solution is on the way. That's good to hear
• Newest "problem" (or feature? ) I just noticed (but I am still new in uploading content so maybe this is already commonly known stuff I am not familiar with  ) - I uploaded new version of my latest table, and while waiting for approval, I changed a line of description text from current release (I just removed some extra line of text) - and that change put back my table in "recent game submissions" list although it is not released yet (stull waiting for approval)... And now, people start to download still old version thinking that they are getting an updated one  (I've already got comment and few private messages asking what's going on)... Would be great if maybe we can control by some checkbox or something whether we want that changes in description put release in "recent submissions" category or not.. Or maybe that only new upload put entry in "recent", and not just change in description...

And no, I am not ranting  It's just few of suggestions for improvement of this already great site (yes - you need to consider this is a hobby and basically free to use... So I can live with these "problems"... but if they can be "fixed", would be great! 👍 )

 

@arminio Please see: